Improvement in barb-wire fences



T. SH UMAN. Barb Wire-Pence No. 215,404. Patented Ma,y13,1879.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON 0 C UNIT D-sures PATENT QFFIGE.

THOMAS SHUMAN, OF CORNING, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO GEORGE A. MORSE, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BAFlB-WIRE FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 215,404, dated May 13, 1879; application filed February 10, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS SHUMAN, of Corning, inthe county of Adams and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barb-Wire Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, whicl form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in barb-wire fences.

Heretofore wire fences have generally been provided with sharp-pointed barbs or thorns, made either of wire or sheet metal, and applied to the wire fence. Sharp-pointed barbs are objectionable, for the reason that they laeerate and injure the stock in the inclosure; and, again, the sharpened points are notreadily seen by the stock, so that many injuries result when no attempts are being made to break through the fence, but the stock accidentally rub against and are lacerated by the sharpened barbs or thorns.

The object of my invention is to obviate the defects above noted and to this end my invention consists in the combination, with a single or double strand of wire, of any desired number of sheet-metal attachments, each consisting of four rectangular arms made in single piece, the outer ends of the arms being cut at right angles to their length, two of said arms being bent in opposite directions around the wire, the extreme ends of said bent arms abutting against the other arms of the attachment, whereby the arms present sufficient surface to be readily observed by the cattle, and the corners of the square ends of the arms prevent the stock from rubbing against or break ing down the fence.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a fence embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the sheet-metal blanks after being cut and before the arms are bent in proper shape. Fig. 3 is a view, in perspective, of one of the attachments. Fig. 4c is a View, in perspective, of one of the attachments applied to a single strand of wire.

N Fig. 5 is a similar View, showing one of the attachments applied to a double-stranded wire. Fig. 6 is a view, in perspective, of one of the stay-strips.

A represents a rectangular blank of sheet metal, steel being preferred. Blank A is slitted at a a by shears or suitable dies, and the arms I) b 0 c bent in opposite directions, as illustrated in Fig. 3.

It will be observed that the outer end, (I, of such arm is cut at right angles to the length of the arm, thus constituting the two sharp corners d (1 upon the end of each arm, .or eight points upon the complete device.

In Fig. 4 the device is shown as being attached to a single strand of wire, the arms b 0 being bent around the wire, while the arms I) a project outwardly therefrom. This form of attachment gives a firm bearing for each device upon the wire, and prevents the device from being displaced when subjected to any ordinary strain.

In Fig. 5 the device is shown as attached to a double strand of wire,'the arms I) c and b 0 being bent in opposite directions, and one strand, B, passing between the arms b c, and the opposite strand, 0, extending between the arms I) 0, thus firmly securing the device against displacement.

Staying-strips D are secured to the adjoinin g strands or wires of the fence, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Each strip D is provided with loops e 0, formed, respectively, on its upper and lower ends thereof, which loops are turned over the wires and serve to keep them from sagging, and thus preserve the fence intact. Each strip D is also provided with squareended arms E, which serve as additional prevention against the escape of stock.

I am aware that staystrips provided with sharp-pointed barbs have heretofore been em ployed, and hence I make no claim to such construction.

I am aware that wire fences have been pro vided with blunt-pointed prongs, cousistin g of sheet-metal strips slitted at either end and twisted around the fence-wire, and also of sections of wire rope, with the strands at opposite ends untwisted to form blunt-pointed prongs; and hence I make no claim to such construction.

Having fully described my invention, what ting against the other arms of the attachment, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letsubstantially as set forth." ters Patent, is- In testimony that I claim the foregoing I The combination, With a fence-Wire, of a have hereunto set my hand this 18th day of sheet-metal attachment made from a single January, 1879.

piece of sheet metal, and consisting of four THOMAS SHUMAN. rectangular arms, I) b c 0, two of said arms Witnesses: being bent in opposite directions around the F. O. DUNBAR,

wire, the extreme ends of said bent arms abut- W. S. HANSON. 

